The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-12-22

stance that they had noted in the reports
received from the different stations-and
that dme was only sixteen miles per hour,
which meant two hours to Kingston.
They were making seven or eight miles
on the pole car, and that, If kept up Gt
was the utmost they could dol, would
bring them to Etowah in two or three
hours from the start. "Then IT," Fuller
continued, I'VE can ind the old Yonah
ready at our end of the branch, we can
take her and run up to Kingston in fifteen
minutes more. There are TO be some
extra trains on the road today that win
bother the Scoundrels up there, and the
chances are that we win overhaul them at
that place, where we viii get plenty Of
help" "But II we do not ind the
Yonah readygn was asked. ''Why, then,
30 far as can see, we are done, " was the
reply.
They did not stop to speculate, but were
all this time pressing on at the very high
est speed possible 1t might well be that
one minute would make all the difference
starting back TO the iron works, miles
away. But there was q sharp Interrupt
ton Just before they came in sight of
Etowah, and while they were straininR
every nerve and looking forward to see II
the smoke OF the engine was yet visible.
We had taken up rail, and there was q
crash, sense Of falling, and they found
themselves lying, hand car and all, in
heap at the bottom of Q ditchl II the en-
bankment had been as high at that place
as at many others on the road, all our
danger would have ended, for no other
party that day originated anything against
us; but the ground was almost level; and
except a few bruises, they were unhurt,
and at once placed their car on the track
again.
While doing this, they were greatly
stimulated and hurried by noticing the
smoke and steam Of the Yonah, which
they could see across the long bend on
their side OF Etowah river. If they could
only make the distance, q little more than
mile, before the engine went back on
the branchl With all their power, like
men working for their lives, they drove
forward. They were noon to soon. The
engine was on the main track still, and
the tender was just being turned on the
half moon turn table, preparatory to start
ing back But the people there saw the
furtouAly driven hand car, with the shout
ing, excited men on 1t, and at once sus-
pended their work and gathered around
to know the cause of these frantic ges
lures. Fulle had not much breath left
to spend In liking, but managed to say
that the Yanl ees had taken his train, and
that he wanted their engine, and all Of
them with their guns to follow in chase.
He, with every man of his party, was well
known and there was no stopping to Ques-
ton. Their very appearance, streaming
with sweat and almost exhausted, bore
witness to the urgency of their haste. A
score OF strong arms whirled back the
| tender on the turn table, and pushed it
| and an empty coal ear up to the engine,
while number Of Confederate soldiers
who were waiting to take the next train
southwark to Big ShAnty, piled In also.
Now they were OF with a strong, well
| armed party, and the chase was on more
equal terms. ''The Yonah," in the
words of Fuller, twas not a strong en-
CINE, but had large wheels, was as active
| as a cat, and with a light load would run
very fast" She was now Just in the SER
| vice adapted to her, and her drivers called
| out all her powers. AS they few over the
| ground, it was q refreshing contrast to
the eXertions on foot or hand car. The
thirteen miles were made in sixteen min
uteS. If the extra trains at Kingston
| only entangled US as long as Fuller hoped,
the whole affair would soon be brought to
q final issueI He did not dread the fight
that was likely to follow, for our number
was only reported even yet by those who
had seen Us working as eight, while he
had some twenty well armed men with
him at this stage OF the journey; and there
| were the crews Of the four or five trains
1t Kingston. Indeed, Fuller and Murphy
might be excused if they rather feared
that "the Yankees" might be captured be-
fore they arrived.